how long do short-term disability benefits last?

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short-term disability insurance is designed to provide income replacement for individuals who are temporarily unable to work due to a medical condition or injury.

by nainesh kotak

published may 13, 2025

3 minute read

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3 minute read

join the conversation

did you know that one in three people, on average, will be disabled for 90 days or more at least once before they reach their retirement age of 65?

that’s according to a guide to disability produced by the canadian life and health insurance association (clhia).

can’t picture what kind of disability could affect you?

the clhia guide offers various scenarios:

a person spends months recuperating from a car accident
a carpenter breaks an arm while skiing and can’t work for eight weeks
an overworked doctor must “take it easy” after a heart attack
chemotherapy saps the energy of a busy store manager
a stroke affects a computer programmer’s ability to reason with numbers
an individual has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder following a traumatic event

any of these unfortunate situations could affect your work life, and if you suddenly need to depend on short-term disability payments, you’ll want to know how long that support will last.

short-term disability insurance is designed to provide income replacement for individuals who are temporarily unable to work due to a medical condition or injury. it is intended to bridge the gap until the individual can return to work or transition to long-term disability, if necessary.

how long your short-term disability support lasts depends on the provider, but it generally lasts between three to six months. while it depends on individual policies, the duration of short-term disability can also be influenced by the nature of your medical condition or injury.

some policies may offer coverage for as little as a few weeks, while others might extend up to a year. it is crucial for you to review your specific policy details to understand the exact duration of coverage.

the duration of short-term disability can be influenced by what kind of medical condition or injury you suffer. some conditions may resolve more quickly, allowing individuals to return to work sooner, while others may require a longer recovery period. medical assessments and recommendations from healthcare providers often play a significant role in determining the appropriate length of time for which benefits are provided.

short-term disability also often covers mental health conditions, such as severe depression or anxiety, that can incapacitate an individual temporarily. these conditions must typically be certified by a healthcare provider to qualify for coverage.

what’s the difference between short-term and long-term disability insurance, you may wonder?

short-term disability is generally intended to cover temporary conditions that prevent an individual from working, such as recovery from planned or emergency surgery, childbirth, or a short-term illness. long-term disability, on the other hand, is meant to support individuals with more severe or chronic conditions that result in prolonged absence from work, such as major injuries or serious health conditions.

short-term disability may have more lenient criteria, focusing on the inability to perform one’s current job. long-term disability policies might require a more stringent definition, such as the inability to perform any job for which the individual is reasonably qualified by education, training, or experience.

the percentage of income replaced also differs between the two types of disability insurance. short-term disability typically covers a higher percentage of an individual’s salary, often between 60 per cent to 80 per cent. long-term disability usually provides a lower percentage, often between 50 per cent to 70 per cent, reflecting the longer duration of coverage.

after submitting your application, there may be a waiting period before benefits begin. this period, often referred to as an elimination period, can range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the policy. during this time, your claim will be reviewed, and you may be contacted for additional information.

it’s important to maintain communication with your employer and the insurance provider throughout the process. if your short-term disability claim is approved, you will receive information on the benefit amount and duration. if denied, you should inquire about the reasons and consider consulting with a disability lawyer to advise you as to the best options to appeal.

nainesh kotak, is the founder of kotak personal injury law, a firm focusing on protecting their client’s rights to justice and obtaining the compensation their clients deserve. he was past chair of the long-term disability section of the ontario trial lawyers’ association.